Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers about online giving at Atascocita UMC

Q:  Why should I choose to use Online Giving?
The discipline of consistent giving is very important to us as faithful stewards and allows Missions and Ministries to continue uninterrupted.

Q:  Are electronic contributions risky?
An electronic contribution is safer than writing a check, and it can`t be lost, stolen, or destroyed in the mail.  Strict national rules and guidelines govern all Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) transactions.  Over four billion EFT transactions are processed annually in the United States.

Q:  Is there a charge to me from my bank to give online?
No.  Electronic funds transfers carry no bank fees for the payer.

Q.  How can I find the routing number asked for if I elect to pay via electronic check?
You can find your bank routing number by looking at one of your paper checks.  Click here to see which is the routing number and which is the account number on your check.  If you need to confirm electronic routing and account numbers for a savings account, please contact your banking institution.

Q:  Can I try out the service by giving one time?
Yes.  You can select to only give once in the signup process.  You will see how easy and efficient the process really is.

Q.  How do I calculate the amounts of recurring gifts so that my pledge is correct for the year?
The "amount you wish to contribute" is the amount that will be given each time a contribution is made.  You will need to divide your annual pledge by the number of contributions you will be making to meet that pledge.  If you open the Frequency list on the Give Now page, you will see the following choices for giving:  Once a week (52), Once Every Two Weeks (26), Twice a Month (24), Once a Month (12), and Once a Quarter (4).  If you will divide your yearly gift by the number of times you will give during the year (number in parenthesis following the choices) you will arrive at the amount to be entered in the amount field.

Q.  How can I set up different giving frequencies for different purposes?
Enter the amount to contribute to a single purpose only, then set the frequency for that purpose and complete the entire payment process.   Once the payment process is completed for your first contribution purpose, repeat the entire process through to completion for each separate purpose for which you want a different giving frequency.

Q:  When would this automatic contribution be taken from my account?
On the signup screen, you can specify whether you want your contribution made one time, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly, or quarterly.  When the date you have selected falls on a weekend or holiday, the transaction will occur the next business day.

Q:  What giving opportunities are available through my online account?
Giving for AUMC General Operations (Tithes and Offerings) is always available and listed for giving.  Also available from time to time will be special project or seasonal offerings.

Q:  Why should I give to the general operations of the church?
The General Operations are the foundation of the church, enabling ministry and mission to occur, which allows the church to make a difference in the world in the name of Jesus.  These funds pay for our staff, who help make ministry and mission happen, for maintaining our facilities, for the paper used in our publications, etc.  The church's general operations should be your first giving priority, and it should receive most of your offering.

Q:  How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?
Your bank statement will include an itemized list of automatic gifts given from your account.  We will continue to provide you with a personal giving statement for your tax records.   You can also check your online record of giving at any time by logging on to your account.

Q:  Can I use my credit card to contribute?
Yes, but AUMC incurs a 3% processing fee for amounts given by credit card.  For AUMC to realize your full contribution, we ask you to add this extra amount to your gift to offset the fee to the church.  Remember Proverbs 22:7 teaches us, "the borrower is the slave of the lender" and we discourage using the credit card option if it results in you incurring debt. We accept the following credit cards:

Q:  How much of my earnings should I give to the church?
The Biblical minimum standard for giving is referred to as a "Tithe."  The tithe represents 10% of your earnings.  Since the Bible teaches "proportionate giving" (also known as percentage-based giving), you should determine what your current giving is as a percentage of your earnings, and then progress towards increasing your giving to a tithe.

Q:  What other giving opportunities are there besides general operations?
From time to time, special project or seasonal offerings will be listed for giving.

Q:  How much should I give to these other opportunities?
These opportunities should be viewed as "over and above" your regular giving.  This is your opportunity to give freely and joyfully in celebration for our many gifts.

Q:  Whom do I contact if I have more questions?
If you have questions about giving in general, please contact Annette Duke at 281-852-1000.  If you have technical questions or problems concerning the online giving process, please contact Ray Cox at 281-454-6074.